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Endotracheal tube mucus as a source of airway mucus for rheological study

Matthew R Markovetz1, Durai B Subramani1, William J Kissner1

  • 1Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
|August 8, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Endotracheal tube (ETT) mucus from healthy individuals offers a practical source for muco-obstructive lung disease (MOLD) research. Its composition and rheology are suitable for studying airway mucus dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Mucus Biophysics

Background:

  • Muco-obstructive lung diseases (MOLDs) involve hyperconcentrated airway mucus, impairing clearance.
  • Research into MOLDs necessitates reliable sources of healthy airway mucus for experimental analysis.
  • Current mucus sample sources like sputum or human bronchial epithelial (HBE) mucus have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the ionic and biochemical composition of mucus collected from endotracheal tubes (ETT) from healthy subjects.
  • To assess the suitability of ETT mucus as a research material for MOLD studies.
  • To generate a pooled stock of ETT mucus for future experimental use.

Main Methods:

  • Collected mucus from endotracheal tubes (ETTs) of healthy human subjects.
  • Characterized the ionic and biochemical compositions of the collected ETT mucus.
  • Generated a pooled stock of ETT mucus samples.
  • Evaluated the rheologic properties of the pooled ETT mucus.

Main Results:

  • The ionic and biochemical compositions of ETT mucus were successfully characterized.
  • A usable stock of pooled ETT mucus was generated.
  • Pooled ETT mucus demonstrated concentration-dependent rheologic properties.
  • The rheologic properties of ETT mucus aligned with previously reported data for individual ETT and HBE mucus samples.

Conclusions:

  • Endotracheal tube (ETT) mucus from healthy individuals is a viable and practical source for MOLD research.
  • ETT mucus offers advantages over traditional sample types like sputum or HBE mucus.
  • This research supports the use of ETT mucus for in vitro MOLD studies and therapeutic development.
Keywords:
cystic fibrosismuco-obstructive lung diseasemucusmucus biochemistrymucus biophysics

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